10 tips: avoid clogging rain gutters and wastewater pipes
Many know the tiresome problem. A clogged gutter but also a clogged drain pipe is not only annoying for the moment but can also bring a number of unpleasant consequences.
We’ll tell you how to avoid a clogged rainwater pipe or sewage system.
In addition, you will learn in our 10 tips how to clear a sewage blockage, what it costs, and who pays for it.
Tip 1: Preventive measures against clogging of rainwater downpipes or sewage pipes
Especially in autumn and winter, falling leaves or snow can quickly lead to a rainwater downpipe clogging. A clogged drain pipe can also be a real problem.
It doesn’t have to be!
Prevent gutter and downspout clogging by installing gutter guards. Water can flow off unhindered through a perforated grid that is used like a sieve.
However, leaves, moss, branches, etc. cannot fall into the gutter. Ideally, the gutter guard is made of the same material as the gutter itself. This guarantees material compatibility.
The best way to prevent a drain pipe clog is to ensure that no leftover food, rubbish, sanitary hygiene items, residues of medication, or other objects are thrown down the toilet or flushed down the sink.
Tip 2: These things never belong in the drainpipe
If many things are thrown indiscriminately down the drain, you not only risk clogging the sewage pipes, but you also pollute the environment and cause lasting damage to it.
These things never belong down the drain!
- Medicines and leftovers
- Oils
- Microplastics
- Pesticides or fertilizers
- Wet wipes, cosmetics
- Items for menstrual hygiene (such as pads and tampons)
- Cigarette butts
- Leftovers from food
- Paints and varnishes
- Animal bedding
Tip 3: Clean sewage pipes – completely naturally
If the drain or the drain pipe is clogged by regular use (e.g. with hair), you can first use natural remedies.
Use a so-called plunger: This suction cup is inexpensive and highly effective.
Simply place the suction bell in the middle of the drain and press it firmly. Then run water over the plunger until it is completely covered.
Then move it up and down without completely detaching it from the drain. In most cases, the sewage pipe blockage can be removed naturally.
Use Baking Soda and Vinegar: To do this, simply pour 3-4 tablespoons of baking soda down the drain and douse with 1/2 cup of vinegar. The mixture gives a fizzy effect. After a short exposure time, rinse with hot water. This often solves sewage blockages.
Tip 4: Recognize the imminent danger of clogging at an early stage
Do not wait too long! Get active if you notice that the water is draining worse than usual.
Then use the recommendations from tip 3. If you wait until no more water runs off, it may already be too late to fix the sewage blockage yourself.
Tip 5: Clean sewage pipes with chemicals
If the natural home remedies from tip 3 don’t help, you can also clean sewage pipes with chemicals. But only use these cleaning products if the natural home remedies don’t work.
You can get numerous products for cleaning drainpipes from specialist retailers. Unfortunately, these are usually very aggressive.
For the sake of the environment: Please use the chemicals for cleaning the sewage pipe extremely sparingly!
Tip 6: Blockage of rainwater pipe – that helps
Clearing debris and especially leaves from gutters and rainwater pipes can be a difficult task. Make sure the ladder you are using is secure before you begin cleaning up the debris.
In places that are difficult to access, you should seek professional help from a cleaning service. He not only has the right equipment, but also extensive know-how about clogged rainwater pipes.
Tip 7: Tenant must inform the landlord about sewage blockage
If there is a sewage blockage that cannot be removed with a plunger or household remedies, tenants must inform their landlord about the blockage.
The landlord then decides how to proceed and can, for example, commission the cleaning to clear the blockage.
But what are the costs for the landlord or the tenant and who pays for the sewage blockage?
Tip 8: Determine sewage blockage costs
If the tenant or owner cannot remove the blockage themselves, professional help is required. The cost of this can vary greatly and depends on individual constipation.
Important: Describe your existing problem with the drainpipe to the pipe cleaning company and ask for a cost estimate for the pipe cleaning in advance. In this way, you avoid unpleasant surprises or expensive bills.
Tip 9: Eliminate sewage blockage
An experienced pipe cleaning company takes over a damage-free, clean and quick pipe cleaning with the most modern tools.
Possible cleaning of drain pipes by sewer and pipe cleaning companies
- In the bathroom, there are toilets, showers, baths, sinks
- in the kitchen – sink, dishwasher
- in the basement – drain, pipe, washing machine
- around the house: rain gutter, sewer pipe, gully
Tip 10: Sewage blockage who actually pays?
If there is a sewage blockage in a rented apartment, the question automatically arises as to who actually pays for it when a cleaning service is commissioned to clean the drains.
Sewage blockage Landlord pays: if the drain blockages are the result of contractual, regular use and are due to hair, residue from the shower, etc., for example. The landlord must also bear the costs of a sewage blockage if the blockage was caused by structural defects, age-related calcification, or pipe damage.
Sewage blockage Tenant pays: if the blockage of the drain is caused by objects, cosmetics, or menstrual hygiene items. In this case, the tenant is responsible for clearing the blockage and paying for the costs of hiring a drain cleaning company.
Attention: As a tenant, it is essential that you inform your landlord about the blockage of the sewage pipe. Because if flooding occurs later due to the sewage pipe blockage, the tenant can be held liable for the damage caused as a result.
It can quickly become expensive because a flood often affects different areas in the house. Elimination can be very expensive.
Good equipped! With these 10 tips, you can avoid blockages in rain gutters and sewage pipes and reliably prevent contamination in advance.
If a rainwater downpipe or waste water pipe does become blocked, you are now well equipped to clear it quickly.